There is much controversy surrounding the use of animals for research purposes.One such argument that Dr Adrian Morrison discusses is one dealing with an animal’s intelligence compared to that of humans, and how that is a factor in determining ethical morality when sacrificing animals in the name of science.People argue that an animal such as a chimpanzee is 98.4 % genetically identical to humans, and therefore, must be of equal percentage human.This is a great disparity and falsehood according to Dr Morrison.Morrison explains the vast gap in intelligence between all animals and humans, stating that no animal comes close to our emotion, and intelligence.Activists complain that the animals are being treated “inhumanely”, yet it has been a frequent occurrence that most laboratory animals are raised to be their healthiest, to ensure unbiased results and a viable experiment.
My experience with animals in a laboratory consisted mainly of animals that were already dead.The manner by which these animals came to my classroom un-living was another question.The fetal pigs were from the pork industry, and were taken out of slaughtered pregnant sows while being butchered.To some activists, there in lies a possible solution in much larger problem. The cats I dissected were mostly strays that were euthanized, or some were from cat owners who did not want to bury their recently deceased friend.I was in one lab where pithing a frog was part of the lab.Even though the frog was given some kind of gaseous agent to numb the pain, sometimes the professor instructed a crack of the frog’s head on the lab table to finish the job.I didn’t participate in that part.It was kind of cool though to see that frog’s heart beating 10 minutes after its death when substances like acetylcholine was dropped on to it.The point I guess, is that science designed to aide in mankind’s healthful and successful future depends upon animal research. Some of the most important scientific discoveries were made possible by the sometimes illegal and “inhumane” research on animals.
Chris Dolos
Morrison, A (2003).Animal-Based Research: Our Human Obligation. The America Biology Teacher. 65, 7-8.
http://0-www.jstor.org.helin.uri.edu/stable/4451423?seq=2
There is much controversy surrounding the use of animals for research purposes. One such argument that Dr Adrian Morrison discusses is one dealing with an animal’s intelligence compared to that of humans, and how that is a factor in determining ethical morality when sacrificing animals in the name of science. People argue that an animal such as a chimpanzee is 98.4 % genetically identical to humans, and therefore, must be of equal percentage human. This is a great disparity and falsehood according to Dr Morrison. Morrison explains the vast gap in intelligence between all animals and humans, stating that no animal comes close to our emotion, and intelligence. Activists complain that the animals are being treated “inhumanely”, yet it has been a frequent occurrence that most laboratory animals are raised to be their healthiest, to ensure unbiased results and a viable experiment.
My experience with animals in a laboratory consisted mainly of animals that were already dead. The manner by which these animals came to my classroom un-living was another question. The fetal pigs were from the pork industry, and were taken out of slaughtered pregnant sows while being butchered. To some activists, there in lies a possible solution in much larger problem. The cats I dissected were mostly strays that were euthanized, or some were from cat owners who did not want to bury their recently deceased friend. I was in one lab where pithing a frog was part of the lab. Even though the frog was given some kind of gaseous agent to numb the pain, sometimes the professor instructed a crack of the frog’s head on the lab table to finish the job. I didn’t participate in that part. It was kind of cool though to see that frog’s heart beating 10 minutes after its death when substances like acetylcholine was dropped on to it. The point I guess, is that science designed to aide in mankind’s healthful and successful future depends upon animal research. Some of the most important scientific discoveries were made possible by the sometimes illegal and “inhumane” research on animals.